Time correcting mechanism

ABSTRACT

An electric timepiece is provided with a time correcting mechanism having both movable and fixed parts for the manual resetting of the time display and a switching mechanism having a movable contact point and a fixed contact point for the selective stopping and starting of the driving of the time display. One of the movable parts of said time correcting mechanism serves as the movable contact point of the switching mechanism while one of the stationary parts thereof serves as the fixed contact point.

United States Patent Ushiyama Mar. 12, 1974 [5 TIME CORRECTING MECHANISM2,741,083 4/1956 Sullivan et al. 58/85.5 UX [76] Inventor: Yoshi)Ushiyama, 1 12, LChOme, 3,691,753 9/1972 Kurita 58/85.5 X

8 1 28? Nagano'ken Primary Examiner-George H. Miller, Jr.

5a a's apan Attorney, Agent, or FirmBlum, Moscovitz, Friedman [22]Filed: July 7, 1972 & Kaplan [21] Appl. No.: 269,912 [57] ABSTRACT Anelectric timepiece is provided with a time correctl Foreign Appllcahonpl'lorlty Data ing mechanism having both movable and fixed parts July9,1971 Japan 46-50868 for the manual resetting of the time display and aswitching mechanism having a movable contact point [52] U.S. Cl. 58/23R, 58/85.5 and a fixed contact point for the selective stopping [51]Int. Cl. G04c 3/00, G04b 27/00 and starting of the driving of the timedisplay. One of [58] Field of Search 58/63, 23 R, 85.5 the movable partsof said time correcting mechanism serves as the movable contact point ofthe switching [56] References Cited mechanism while one of thestationary parts thereof n STATES PATENTS serves as the fixed contactpoint.

3,745,758 7/1973 Kuritz 58/23 R 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENIEBIAR12 m4 3.796.038

' sum 2 BF 2 POWER SOURCE TIME CORRECTING MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to a time correcting mechanism whichcorrects the time display of an electric timepiece. In particular, theinvention relates to an electric timepiece wherein the time correctingmechanism, which corrects the time indication display mechanism of thewatch from outside of the watch (i.e., sets the hands of the watch) alsoserves as a switching mechanism for starting and stopping the watchelectrically, thereby increasing the reliability of the mechanism anddecreasing the number of parts required.

In conventional electric timepieces, the time correcting mechanism whichcorrects the time indication display from outside of the watch and theswitching mechanism which electrically starts and stops the timeindication display are provided as separate mechanisms. This structurenot only results in the requirement for a large number of parts, butalso serves to lower the reliability of the arrangement. Further, sincethe switching mechanism and the time correcting mechanism are separate,the synchronization required in their operation is not assured. Thus, inmost watches, at the initial position of a watch stem the timecorrecting mechanism is designed so that the time indication displaycannot be adjusted from outside of the watch and the switching mechanismoperates so that the time indication display is driven to provide adisplay of time. At the second displaced position of the stem, date andday are corrected, while at the third displaced position of the stem,the time indication display is adjusted while stopped (i.e., while thetime indication display is not driven). In conventional watches wherethe time correcting mechanism and switching mechanism are separate,defective switching mechanisms frequently bring the time indicationdisplay, such as a second hand, to the stopped state at the firstposition of the stem while failing to stop said time indication displayat the second or third position of the stem. This defect not onlyresults in the failure of the time correction function, but also in thefailure of the time keeping function of the watch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally speaking, in accordance with theinvention, an electric timepiece is provided having a time indicationdisplay means, means for driving said time indication display means, atime correcting mechanism having movable and stationary parts and aswitching mechanism operatively coupled to said drive means forselectively stopping and starting said drive means. Said switchingmechanism is formed with a movable contact point formed by one of themovable parts of said time correcting mechanism and a fixed contactpoint formed as a stationary part of said time correcting mechanism. Themovable part serving as said movable contact point may be one of thestem, setting lever, yoke, setting wheel, clutch wheel or setting wheelstopper while the stationary part forming said fixed contact point maybe one of an axle, a guide pin or a stopper of said time correctingmechanism.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a switchingmechanism which operates coordinately with the time correcting mechanismto insure the stopping of the watch during time correction and therestarting thereof at the completion of time correction.

Another object of the invention is to form a time correcting andswitching mechanism from a reduced number of parts.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part beobvious and will in part be apparent from the specification anddrawings.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of theinvention, reference is had to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of the time correcting mechanismof an electric watch in accordance with the invention disposed in thefirst or winding position thereof; v

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the time correcting mechanismof FIG. 1 disposed in the second,- date correcting position thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the time correcting mechanismof FIG. 2 disposed in the third,time correcting position thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a block daigram of an electric watch in accordance with theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS.

Referring first to FIG.'4, a block diagram of an electric watch inaccordance with the invention is depicted. Said watch includes a timestandard oscillator for pro ducing a time standard signal having afrequency of several kHz. This time standard signal is divided into atiming signal of a frequency of several Hz by a divider circuit. Thetiming signal is shaped and amplified by a driving circuit to produce adriving signal which, in turn, is converted into mechanical movement bya transducer. The transducer serves to drive a time indication displayor time indicator, which may consist of conventional minute, hour orsecond hands or the like for displaying time. A switch means orswitching mechanism is coupled to the divider circuits for cutting offor permitting the transmission of the timing signals to start or stopthe time indication display. Said switching mechanism is operated fromoutside of the watch as by a watch stem. In the embodiment depicted,when the contact point of the switching mechanism is open, the dividercircuit continues to apply the timing signals to the driver and the timeindication display is continuously driven. On the other hand, when saidcontact point is closed, the transmission of the timing signal by thedivider is stopped, and said time indication display is stopped.

The time correcting mechanism or time adjusting mechanism corrects thetime indication on the time indication display from outside of thewatch, as by a stem. Thus, both the switching and time adjustingfunctions are performed by the pulling or turning of said stem. In theembodiment depicted in the drawings, the stem has three positions. Thefirst of these positions is a free or usual carrying state, usually setaside for performing the winding function. The second position of thewinding stem, displaced from the first position, is set aside for datecorrection. At the third position of the stern, displaced from thesecond position, the time indication display is stopped and said displaymay be manually corrected. Thus, at this position, for example, thehands may be set. When the stem is pushed in, the time indicationdisplay immediately starts, and the precise time is indicated.

Said first position of the time correcting mechanism is depicted in FIG.I. Said time correcting mechanism includes a stem 1 having a clutchwheel 2 mounted on a square portion thereof for axial displacementtherealong. A setting lever 3 is pivotably mounted on watch plate 14 andhas a projection which rides in a groove in stem 1 for pivotaldisplacement of said setting lever in response to the axial displacementof said stem. A yoke 4 is also pivotably mounted on the watch plate andengages in a circumferential groove in clutch wheel 2 for the axialpositioning of said clutch wheel along said winding stem.

A notched setting lever spring 5 is provided, only a fragment thereofbeing shown in FIG. 1, for engaging a further projection mounted onsetting lever 3 for the precise positioning of said setting lever. Asetting wheel lever 6 is pivotably mounted on an axis 7 likewise mountedon the watch plate. Setting wheel lever 6 is biased in the clockwisedirection, as viewed in FIG. 1, by the force of setting wheel leverspring 8, so that said setting wheel lever engages setting lever 3 andis positioned thereby. A setting wheel 9 is rotatably mounted on settingwheeel lever 6. Said setting wheel lever is formed with an ellipticalslot therethrough, said setting wheel lever also carrying a datecorrecting wheel pivotably mounted on an axle passing through saidcliptical slot. Said slot is positioned so that date correcting wheel 11operatively engages setting wheel 9. The watch includes a date wheel 11and a minute wheel 12. A fixed contact point 13 which also serves as astopper for setting wheel lever 6 is fixedly mounted on plate 14 andelectrically insulated therefrom. Fixed contact point 13 forms a part ofthe switching mechanism in accordance with the invention. Said switchingmechanism is closed by the engagement of fixed contact point 13 with thesetting wheel lever 6, which is electrically coupled to plate 14. Thus,setting wheel lever 6, which forms a part of the time correctingmechanism is also the movable contact point of the switching mechanism,both functions being performed by the operation of stem 1.

At the first position of stem 1 depicted in FIG. 1, clutch wheel 2 isdisconnected from setting wheel 9 and the setting wheel is alsodisconnected from minute wheel 12. At this position, the rotation ofstem 1 is related to neither hand setting or date correction. Fixedcontact point 13 is not engaged by the movable contact point (settinglever wheel 6) so that the time indication display is driven.

The second position of the winding stem is depicted in FIG. 2. When stem1 is pulled to said second position, clutch wheel 2 is engaged withsetting wheel 9 by yoke 4. In this position,the setting wheel lever 6has not moved, the projecting portion of said setting lever stillengaging and being positioned by setting lever 3. At this position,setting wheel 9 does not engage minute wheel 12.

When the watch is disposed in the position of FIG. 2, and stem 1 isturned in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2, the datecorrecting wheel 10 moves in elliptical slot 15 of setting wheel lever6. Said elliptical slot is shaped so that the distance between therespective axes of rotation of date correcting wheel 10 and settingwheel 9 remains constant without regard to the position of said datecorrecting wheel in slot 15. In this manner, the date correcting wheelremains in engagement with the setting wheel and is positioned inengagement with date wheel 11 for displacing said date wheel to correctthe date indication.

On the other hand, when stem 1 is turned in the counter clockwisedirection as viewed in FIG. 2, date correcting wheel 10 moves in theelliptical groove 15 in the reverse direction, and is disconnected fromdate wheel 1. Thus, the counter clockwise rotation of stem 1 results inthe rotation of correcting wheel 10 without real effect.

The gear pitch of the data correcting wheel 10 'is preferably an integermultiple of the gear pitch of the setting wheel. Further, the gear pitchof date correcting wheel 10 bears a ratio to the gear pitch of the datawheel represented by the gear pitch of said date wheel divided byan-integer. In one embodiment, the gear pitch of the date correctingwheel is two times that of the setting wheel and one half of that of thedate wheel.

Setting wheel lever 6 does not move when the stem is displaced from itsfirst to its second position as the projection on setting wheel lever '6still engages setting lever 3, so that the switching mechanism is in thesame state as it was at the first position of said stem and the timeindication display continues to be driven.

On the other hand, when the winding stem is pulled to the third positionthereof as depicted in FIG. 3, setting wheel lever 6 is disengaged fromsetting lever 3 due to the operation of the spring force of settingwheel lever spring 8 and setting sheel 9 engages minute wheel 12. Clutchwheel 2 is moved in the same direction as that of setting wheel 9 byyoke 4 to engage said setting wheel against minute wheel 12. By turningstem 1, the time indication display can be readily adjusted. At thisposition, date correcting wheel 10 is regulated by the elliptical slot15 and is not engaged with the date wheel 1 1. At this position, datecorrecting wheel 10 freely rotates. Upon disconnection from settinglever 3, setting wheel lever 6 engages the fixed contact point 13 of theswitching mechanism to close said switching mechanism, thereby curtingoff the timing signal from the divider circuit to stop the timeindication display.

Fixed contact point 13 serves not only as an electrical contact pointfor the switching mechanism, but also as a stopper which regulates theoperational range of setting wheel lever 6 to stop said setting wheellever at a position where setting wheel lever at a position wheresetting wheel 9 engages minute wheel 12 precisely. Thus, fixed contactpoint 13 constitutes a part of the time correcting mechanism, is fixedto plate 14, and is one of the fixed parts which guide the movableportion of the time correcting mechanism or serves as a stoppertherefor.

After time correction is completed, and stem 1 is pushed in to return itto its first position, the timing sig nals are immediately produced bythe divider circuit and the time indication mechanism begins to work.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the arrangement in accordancewith the invention insures the coordinate operation of the timecorrecting mechanism and the switching mechanism. This insures that theswitch is always open at the winding and date correction positions ofthe stem while closing the switching mechanism at the third or timecorrecting position of said stem. Thus, not only can the watch beprecisely set for the right time, but also, said watch can never bestopped by the operation of the switching mechanism while the watch isin normal operation.

Since the parts constituting the time correcting mechanism are also usedas parts of the switching mechanism, the number of parts incorporated inthe watch can be decreased, promoting simplification and reliability ofthe watch mechanism. Further, the space required for the time correctingmechanism is decreased, further contributing to the miniaturization ofthe size of the watch.

While in the embodiment depicted in the drawings, the setting wheellever performs the function of the movable contact point, other movableparts of the time correcting mechanism may also be utilized for thispurpose, such as the stem, setting lever, yoke, setting wheel, or clutchwheel. Not only stoppers, but other stationary portions of the timecorrecting mechanism such as an axle or guide pin may also serve as thefixed contact member of the switching mechanism.

Further, while in the embodiment depicted in the drawings, the switchingmechanism performs the start and stop function by operating on a dividercircuit, the arrangement in accordance with the invention can also beapplied to an electric watch having a power switch which turns thesupply of electrical energy from the power source.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those madeapparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and,since certain changes may be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intendedthat all matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric timepiece comprising a time indication display means fordriving said time indication display;

a time correcting mechanism having movable and stationary partsselectably couplable to said time indication display for the resettingthereof; and a switching mechanism operatively coupled to said drivemeans for the selective turning on and turning off thereof, saidswitching mechanism including a movable contact point defined by one ofsaid movable parts of said time correcting mechanism and a fixed contactpoint defined by a stationary part of said time correcting mechanism,said time correcting mechanism including a stem, a setting lever, ayoke, a setting wheel, a clutch wheel and a setting wheel lever, saidmovable part defining said movable contact point being one of said stem,setting lever, yoke, setting wheel, clutch wheel or setting wheel lever.

2. An electrical timepiece comprising a time indication display; meansfor driving said time indication display; a time correcting mechanismhaving movable and stationary parts selectably couplable to said timeindication display for the resetting thereof; and a switching mechanismoperatively coupled to said dirve means for the selective turning on andturning off thereof, said switching mechanism including a movablecontact point defined by one of said movable parts of said timecorrecting mechanism and a fixed contact point defined by a stationarypart of said time correcting mechanism, said time correcting mechanismincluding an axle, a guide pin or a stopper, said fixed contact pointbeing defined by one of said axle, guide pin or stopper.

3. An electric timepiece comprising a time indication display; means fordriving said time indication display; a time correcting mechanism havingmovable and stationary parts selectably couplable to said timeindication display for the resetting thereof; and a switching mechanismoperatively coupled to said drive means for the selective turning on andturning off thereof, said switching mechanism including a movablecontact point defined by one of said movable parts of said timecorrecting mechanism and a fixed contact point defined by a stationarypart of said time correcting mechanism, said time correcting mechanismincluding a setting wheel lever and a stopper for said setting wheellever, said movable contact point being defined by said setting wheellever, said fixed contact point being defined by said stopper.

1. An electric timepiece comprising a time indication display means fordriving said time indication display; a time correcting mechanism havingmovable and stationary parts selectably couplable to said timeindication display for the resetting thereof; and a switching mechanismoperatively coupled to said drive means for the selective turning on andturning off thereof, said switching mechanism including a movablecontact point defined by one of said movable parts of said timecorrecting mechanism and a fixed contact point defined by a stationarypart of said time correcting mechanism, said time correcting mechanismincluding a stem, a setting lever, a yoke, a setting wheel, a clutchwheel and a setting wheel lever, said movable part defining said movablecontact point being one of said stem, setting lever, yoke, settingwheel, clutch wheel or setting wheel lever.
 2. An electrical timepiececomprising a time indication display; means for driving said timeindication display; a time correcting mechanism having movable andstationary parts selectably couplable to said time indication displayfor the resetting thereof; and a switching mechanism operatively coupledto said dirve means for the selective turning on and turning offthereof, said switching mechanism including a movable contact pointdefined by one of said movable parts of said time correcting mechanismand a fixed contact point defined by a stationary part of said timecorrecting mechanism, said time correcting mechanism including an axle,a guide pin or a stopper, said fixed contact point being defined by oneof said axle, guide pin or stopper.
 3. An electric timepiece comprisinga time indication display; means for driving said time indicationdisplay; a time correcting mechanism having movable and stationary partsselectably couplable to said time indication display for the resettingthereof; and a switching mechanism operatively coupled to said drivemeans for the selective turning on and turning off thereof, saidswitching mechanism including a movable contact point defined by one ofsaid movable parts of said time correcting mechanism and a fixed contactpoint defined by a stationary part of said time correcting mechanism,said time correcting mechanism including a setting wheel lever and astopper for said setting wheel lever, said movable contact point beingdefined by said setting wheel lever, said fixed contact point beingdefined by said stopper.